Electrostatic copying machine and synchronizing control system therefor

ABSTRACT

An electrostatic book-copier machine includes a movable carriage on which an original document is positioned for reproducing it onto a simultaneously moving length of copy paper. Cams are provided for timing the copying cycle and for synchronizing the movements of the carriage and of the copy paper with the actuation of the corona charging device and of the exposure lamp. Spring means are also provided for speeding up the return of the carriage to the home position upon completion of any copy cycle.

[ Aug. 19, 1975 United States Patent [1 1 Ravera et a1.

[ ELECTROSTATIC COPYING MACHINE Kowalski............................... Auken et all 355/13 X Murgas et a1. Murgas et a1. 974 Tanaka.................................

both of Turin; Carlo Bellis, Strambino, all of Italy Primary ExaminerRichard L. Moses Attorney, Agent, or Firml. .l. Schaefer [73] Assignee: Ing. C. Olivette & C., S.p.A., Turin,

Italy ABSTRACT [22] Filed: June 21, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 481,941

An electrostatic book-copier machine includes a mov- [30] Forei n A cation Priority Data able carriage on which an original document is posig pp 1 tioned for reproducing it onto a simultaneously mov- July 9, 1973 ing length of copy paper. Cams are provided for timing the copying cycle and for synchronizing the movements of the carriage and of the copy paper with the actuation of the corona charging device and of the exposure lamp. Spring means are also provided for speeding up the return of the carriage to the home po- References Cited sition upon completion of any copy cycle. UNITED STATES PATENTS 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU mm 9 I915 sum u .:UF g

PATENTED AUG] 9 I975 sum 5 or g;

PATENTED AUGI 9 ms ..IET a 0? g;

ELECTROSTATIC COPYING MACHINE AND SYNCHRONIZING CONTROL SYSTEM THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to electrostatic copying machines of the type in which an original is driven through a scanning zone by a first transport system while a copy sheet is synchronously driven-from a feed station through a corona-effect electrostatic charging device and then through an exposure zone, at which an image of the original is formed on the copy sheet by an optical system.

In these machines, a sheet of photosensitive paper is charged electrostatically and guided to pass in the focal plane of the optical system through which the light image of the original is projected on to the sheet, forming a latent electrostatic image thereon, and the sheet is then guided to a developing station where the image is developed and fixed.

2. Description of the Prior Art Electrostatic copying systems of the type to which the invention relates are known in which the synchroniswitches becomes difficult and jamming of the movement'iof the paper is liable to occur.

' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to overcome these disadvantages, the present invention provides an electrostatic copying machine comprising a motor, a first transport system actuated by the motor for transporting an original along a scanning'zone past an illuminating system, a second transport system actuated by the motor for transporting a copy sheet fed from a feed station through a coronaeffect electrostatic charging device and through an exposure zone at which an image of the original is formed by an optical system, means for synchronizing the movement of the said first and second transport system and for co-ordinating the actuation of the charging device and illuminating system with the movement of the first transport. system, wherein the said means are constituted by first, second and third integral cams actuated by the motor, a clutch device controllable into a first operative position of transmission of the motion from the motor to the cams and into a second position of non-transmission of the motion from the motor to the earns, a key coupled to the clutch device for controlling the same into its first operative position and for activating the corona charging device, means actuated by the second cam for transmitting the motion from the motor to the first transport system and for activating the illuminating system, actuating means actuated by the first cam and controlling the clutch device into the second operative position, and second actuating means actuated by the third cam for feeding the copy sheet to the second transport system.

Moreover, in electrostatic copying apparatus of the type to which the invention relates and in which the first transport system comprises a carriage which performs a first travel from a first position to a second position, during which the projection of the image on to the copy sheet takes place, and a second travel from the second position to the first position, the function of which is simply to re-establish the initial conditions for the execution of a fresh copying cycle, an essential requirement for obtaining a high copying speed is that this second travel be the fastest possible, since it constitutes a dead or waiting time for the machine cycle.

The embodiment of the invention to be described below enables this requirement to be satisfied in an efficient manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in more detail, by may of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a copying machine embodying the invention from the right;

FIG. 2 is a median longitudinal section of the copying machine; (in the present description length" is from side to side of the machine);

FIG. 3 is a view of the rear face of the copying machine with the rear panel removed;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the carriage advance device from the right;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the synchronizing devices from the right; and

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the control keys and the corresponding actuating devices from the right.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, the copying machine comprises a body 1 of substantially parallelepipedal form and a carriage 2 mounted slidably with respect to the body. The body 1 comprises an inner frame constituted by a base 3 and cheek plates 4 and 5 (FIG. 5), and covering panels. The cheek plate 4 is covered by front panels 6, 7, 8. The check plate 5 is covered by a rear panel 9. The body is moreover defined at the opposite end faces by end panels 10 and 11.

Between the panels 6 and 7 and above the panel 8 are mounted the control keys l2, l3, 14 of the machine, which will be described in detail hereinafter. The end panel 10 has a slot 15 of rectangular form (FIG. 2) constituting the exit for the copy sheet. The panels 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, l 1 are all removable for allowing access to the interior of the machine.

The carriage 2 bears a plane rectangular and transparent plate 17 fast with its top surface 16 (FIG. 2 the plate constituting the illuminating surface of the machine. For positioning and covering originals on the illuminating surface 17, the carriage 2 is provided with a cover 18 (FIG. 1) hinged on one side of the carriage and operated into its open and closed positions by an arm 19 also hinged on the same side of the carriage and coupled to the cover 18 by spring means not shown in the drawing.

The carriage 2 slides from left to right and then from right to left and is equipped with a selector for the cut length of the copy sheet, formed by a slider 20 movable manually along a graduated guide 21 and carrying a projection 22 (FIG. 6) adapted to stop the carriage in a position depending on the length of the copy sheet which it is desired to obtain by means of engagement with a counter-stop 23 connected to the body I. The sliding to the right is under the action of a spring. The sliding to the left is under the control of a driving motor and exposure takes place during this. At the end of the exposure the carriage is back in the central position.

The carriage 2 is moreover provided with projections 24, 25, 26 fast therewith (FIG. 4). The projection 24 is adapted to produce the arrest of the carriage 2 in a central position with respect to the body 1 of the ma chine by means of engagement with the counter-stop 23 (FIG. 6). During the movement of the carriage 2, the projections 25 and 26 are adapted to co-operate with levers 28 and 29 (FIG. 4), respectively, connected to the body 1, as will be better described hereinafter.

The carriage 2 has the function of transporting the original held in position on the illuminating surface 17 across a scanning window formed by a rectangular slot 30 (FIG. 2) located in the upper part of the body 1, where the image of the original is sent to the copy sheet by means described hereinafter. To this end, the carriage 2 is slidable on the body 1 by engagement of guide rods 31 and 32 (FIG. 4), extending longitudinally over the entire length of the carriage 2 and fixed to the end faces 33 and 34 thereof, with systems of bearing rollers 35 and 36 pivoted to the upper part of the body 1. A toothed belt 37 is fixed to the opposite ends of the carriage 2 and extends throughout the length thereof, the ,Eelt 37 permitting transmission of motion to the carrt o 2 from a motor 38 (FIG. 3 through the medium of driving elements described hereinafter.

The feed of the copy sheets inside the machine takes place from a feed station 44 (FIG. 2) located in the section between the front panels 8 and 9 and the end panel 11 and accessible therefrom. The station 44 comprises a support 45 for the roll of photosensitive paper which can be withdrawn from the body 1 of the machine, a device 46 for cutting the copy sheet from the roll and a slide or tray 47 withdrawable from the body 1 for the supplementary feed of single sheets.

The support 45 is constituted by two side pieces 48 and a base 49 and in the side pieces there are formed two notches 50 adapted to support a spindle 51 on which is wedged a roll of sensitive paper 52. The roll rests on rollers 53 and 54 pivoted to the side pieces 48 and adapted to rotate about their own axes. A rod 55 fast with the said side pieces 48 is adapted to cooperate with slots 56 formed in side pieces 57 fast with the panel 11. The panel 11 is pivoted on the spindle 58 fixed to the body of the machine and is adapted to turn clockwise about this spindle.

A pair of levers 60 pivoted on a spindle 61 fast with the side pieces 48 have slots 62 within which a rod 64 fixed to the side pieces 57 is free to slide. The levers 60 have projections adapted to co-operate with a spindle 66 pivoted in the cheek plates 4 and 5 of the machine and free to slide in slots 63 (FIG. 5) formed therein. On the spindle 66 there is keyed a first roller 67, while a second roller 68 is keyed on a spindle 69 pivoted to the side pieces 48. The rollers 67 and 68 constitute the pair of rollers for the feed, inside the machine, of the copy sheet from the roll 52. The roller 67 is a driving roller and the roller 68 is driven by the roller 67.

On the opening of the panel 11 (FIG. 2) obtained by hinging the panel downwardly, the engagement of the rod 55 with the slots 56 of the side pieces 57 produces the translation of the support 45 and, therefore, the withdrawal thereof from the inside to the outside of the machine. At the same time, owing to the engagement of the rod 64 with the slots 62 of the levers 60, the projections 65 of the levers cause the separation of the roller 67 from the roller 68. The roller 67 is withdrawn with the support 45 by sliding of the spindle 66 in the slots 63, while the roller 68 is withdrawn with the support 45 because it is pivoted to the side pieces 48 thereof.

The withdrawn position of the support is shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. The withdrawal of this support permits easier replacement of the roll 52 by the operator. The separation of the rollers 67 and 68 enables the introduction of the edge of the copy sheet, from the roll 52, into its proper path inside the machine to be facilitated after replacement of the roll has taken place.

The cutting device 46 comprises a movable blade 73 and a fixed counter-blade 74; this device is the subject of our Italian Pat. No. 928778 and will therefore not be described hereinafter, except for the working commands for the device.

The tray 47, withdrawable from the body of the machine, permits the supplementary feed of a single copy sheet of a format different from that obtainable with the roll 52 mounted on the support 45. The sheet, resting on the withdrawn tray 47, is fed to the following copy-sheet transport rollers through the medium of a pair of rollers 75 and 76 both pivoted to the cheek plates 4 and 5 of the body of the machine on spindles 71 and 72. The roller 76 is a driving roller and the roller 75 is driven.

The transport system for the copy sheet from the feed zone to the exit 15 on the opposite side of the machine, whether the sheet is fed from the roll 52 or from the tray 47 as an off-size sheet, is constituted by means of the pairs of rollers 77, 78; 79, 80; 81, 82; 83, 84; 85, 86; 87, 88; 89, 90 located above and below the path of the copy sheet, each of these rollers being keyed on a spindle rotatable in the opposite cheek plates 4, 5 of the body of the machine.

The rollers 78, 80, 82, 84, 85, 88, 90 are driving rollers and receive their motion from gears 78a, 80a, 82a, 84a, 85a, 88a, a, respectively, each coaxial with the respective roller and receiving their motion in turn from the motor 38 through endless toothed belts 59 and 70 (FIG. 3). The other rollers of each of the pairs are driven.

The following stations are distributed along the path of the copy sheet: a corona-effect charging station 27 (FIG. 2) between the pairs of rollers 77, 78; 79, 80; an exposure station 69 between the pairs of rollers 79, 80 and 81, 82; a liquid developing station 43 of known type between the pairs of rollers 83, 84 and 85, 86; and a drying station 97 constituted by the pairs of rollers 87, 88; 89, 90; 85, 86.

The exposure station 69 comprises an illuminating unit 91, an optical system 92 and an exposure window 93. The illuminating unit 91 is constituted by a lamp 94 and a reflecting optical screen 95 adapted to limit the light beam emitted by the lamp and to define an illumination zone 96 on the illuminating surface 17 borne by the carriage 2. The optical system 92 is constituted by mirrors 98 and 99 and a mirror lens 42 which are adapted to define the optical path of the light beam from the illumination zone to the exposure window 93. The light image of the part of the original passing by in front of the illumination zone 96, limited by the scanning window 30, is reflected by the mirror 98 on to the mirror lens 42 and is sent by the latter, by reflection on to the mirror 99, to the exposure window 93, where it falls on the part of the copy sheet which is passing by in front of the window.

The rollers 85, 86 of the drying station 97 for the copy sheet, which is located downstream of the developing station 43, have a surface covering of hard rubber and form a pair of squeegee rollers. The rollers 87 and 89, on the other hand, are covered with absorbent material, such as is described, for example, in the Applicants' Copending USP Application Ser. No. 473,l 15, and effect the final drying of the copy sheet, which is then delivered to the exit slot without any trace of residual developer. From the exit slot 15, the copy sheet comes to rest in a holder for copies already made, which is constituted by a tray'40 withdrawable from beneath the body of the machine.

FIG. 5 shows the synchronizing elements for controlling the transport of the copy sheet and the movement of the carriage. On a shaft 100 pivoted in the cheek plates 4 and 5 of the body 1 there is rigidly fixed a cam system 101 constructed in a single block of rigid plastics material and comprising five ca'm tracks:

Track 102 for controlling the rotation of the cam system 101 itself;

Track 103 for controlling the reversal of the carriage;

Track 104 for arming the system for cutting a sheet I from the roll;

Track 105 for controlling the feed of a single or separate sheet;

Track 106 for controlling the feed of the sheet from the roll.

Moreover, keyed rigidly on the shaft 100 and incorporated in the block 101 is a gear 107 for the transmission of the motion from the motor 38 to the shaft 100 and, therefore, to the cam system itself. The rotation of the cam system takes place anticlockwise with reference to FIG. 5. The gear 107 meshes with a gear 108 keyed on a shaft 109. A gear 110 is also keyed on the shaft 109.

On the shaft 109, between the gear 108 and the gear 110, there is interposed a clutch 112, the gear 110 being a driving gear and the gear 108 being driven through the clutch. The gear 110 receives its motion from a gear 111 actuated in turn by the motor 38 through the endless toothed belt 70, see FIG. 3.

The clutch 112 is controllable into the positions of release or engagement and locking or disengagement,

, respectively, corresponding to transmission of the motion from the gear 110 to the gear 108 and to nontransmission of the motion, by means of a lug or tongue 113. The lug or tongue 1 13 co-operates with a first projection 114 of a lever 115 mounted on and fast with a spindle 116 and provided with a second projection 117 and a return spring 118. The spindle 116 is pivoted to the frame of the machine and extends over the entire depth (front to back) thereof; a lever 260 on the opposite side of the machine (FIG. 6) is fast with the spindle 116 andis operatively connected, by lever systems described hereinafter, to the control key 13 for the execution of a copying cycle.

A pin 119 is fast with the projection 117 and cooperates with the track 102 of the cam system 101. The

profile of this said track is composed of two circular sectors 102a and 10217 complementary to 360 and belonging to two circles of different radii and having their centres on the shaft 100, the radius of the sector 102a being smaller than the radius of the sector 102b. During the rotation of the cam system 101, when the pin 119 engages the sector 102a the transmission of motion from the gear 110 to the gear 108 does not take place,

since the projection 114 co-operates with the lug 113 in such manner as to hold the clutch in the locking or disengaged position, whereas there is transmission of motion when the pin 119 engages the sector 10212.

The cam track 103 is an internal track composed of twocircular sectors 103a and 103b complementary to 360 and belonging to two circles with their centres on the shaft and different radii. A pin 121 co-operates with the cam track 103 and is fast with a lever 123 pivoted on a spindle 124 fixed to the body 1 and provided with elastic return means 125. The lever 123 is adapted to co-operate by means of a notch 126 therein with an extension 131 of a lever 132 pivoted on a pin 133 and provided with a fork 135.

The lever 132 is articulated to one end 136 of a slidable bar 137 extending between the cheek plates 4 and 5 of the machine; at the front of the machine, the other end 138 of the bar 137 is articulated to a lever 141 pivoted on a pin 142 to the body of the machine and having a projection 143 adapted to co-operate with a projection 144 of the lever 28, which is pivoted on a spindle 145 fixed to the body of the machine and is provided with elastic return means 146 and adapted to cooperate, as already stated, with the projection 25 fast with the carriage 2. The end 138 of the bar 137 (FIG. 5) is moreover adapted to actuate a microswitch 139.

The fork 135 co-operates with a gear 150 fast with a shaft 151, which is pivoted in the body of the machine so as to be slidable perpendicularly to the cheek plate 5. According to theposition of the lever 132, the gear 150 is adapted to couple the gear 1 11 with, or uncouple it from, a gear 153 keyed on a shaft 154 pivoted in the body of the machine. Two gears 155 and 156 (FIG. 4) are also keyed on the shaft 154.

The gear 155 meshes with the toothed belt 37 fixed to the carriage and is adapted to transmit the motion to the carriage itself. The gear 156 meshes with a gear 157 keyed on a shaft 158 pivoted to the body of the machine. A clock spring 159 is also keyed on the shaft 158 for effecting the initial drive of the carriage to the right.

The movement of the carriage takes place from left to right with reference to FIG. 4 (back to the left in FIG. 1) when the pin 121 engages the sector 103a of the cam track 103 and therefore the position of the lever 132 is such that the gear 150 receives the motion from the driving gear 111 and transmits it, through the gears 153 and 155, to the belt 37 carrying the carriage 2 along.

The stopping and possible reversal (if more than one copy is being made) of the movement of the carriage is controlled during its motion from left to right in FIG. 4 by the striking of the projection 25 fixed to the car- .riage against the lever 28, the rotation of which about the pivot 145 causes, through the medium of the lever system 141, 137 and 132 (FIG. 5), the shifting of the gear l50 from right to left and its disengagement from the gear 153 and, therefore, the cessation of the transmission of the motion to the belt 37, for which reason the motion is imparted to the belt by the spring 159 (FIG. 4), which has been wound up during the movement of the carriage from left to right through the gears 157 and 156 and the carriage will perform its travel in the opposite direction after an almost instantaneous stop.

A pin 160 fast with a slider 161 provided with elastic return means and coupled by a lever system, not shown in the drawing, to the movable blade 73 of the cutting unit 46 is adapted to co-operate with the cam track 104 (FIG.

During the rotation of the cam system, the pin 160, co-operating with the track 104, actuates the slider 161 and produces the arming of the cutting system 46 in a manner similar to that described for the cutting device to which our Italian Pat. No. 928778 relates.

The cam track 105 is composed of two circular sectors 105a and 105b complementary to 360 which have their centres on the shaft 100 and are of different radii. A pin 163 co-operates with the track 105. The pin 163 is fast with a pivoted lever 164 fast with a spindle 165 and having a projection 166 adapted to co-operate with the spindle 71 of the single sheet driven roller 75. The spindle 71 is adpated to slide up and down in slotted holes 178 formed in the cheek plates 4 and 5. A lever 169 fast and pivoting with the spindle 165 also cooperates with the spindle 71.

When the pin 163 engages the sector 105a of the cam track 105, the levers 164 and 169 are rotated clockwise with respect to the position in the drawing and the spindle 71, no longer retained by the projection 166 and the lever 169, is restored downwardly by elastic means 171 so that the driven roller 75 is coupled with the driving roller 76 keyed on the spindle 72 parallel to the spindle 71. The spindle 72 receives its motion from the gear 107 by means of a gear 172.

The cam track 106, which is eccentric with respect to the shaft 100, co-operates with a pin 173 fast with a lever 174 pivoted on a spindle 175 fixed to the body of the machine. The lever 174 has a projection 176 having a pin 177 fast therewith.

An element in the form of a toothed circular sector 179 having an arm 180 is pivoted, with elastic means 181 interposed, on the spindle 175 and adapted to rotate with respect thereto. The toothed sector 179 meshes with the gear 182 fixed to a unidirectional motion transmitting device 183 keyed on the spindle 66. Transmission of the motion from the gear 182 to the spindle 66 takes place only during the anticlockwise rotation of the latter.

A lever 185 pivoted on the arm 180 and provided with elastic return means 186 has a first projection 187 adapted to co-operate with the pin 177 and a second projection 188 adapted to co-operate with a lever 189 pivoted loosely on the spindle 165 and provided with elastic return means 190. Fast with the lever 189 is a pin 191 adapted to co-operate with a lug 192 integral with the single sheet tray 47.

During the rotation of the cam system 101, if the tray is in the closed position (inside the machine), the lug 192 co-operates with the pin 191 and the lever 189 is located in the position shown in FIG. 5. Under these conditions, the projection 187 clasps the pin 177 and the motion of the cam track 106 is transmitted to the toothed sector 179 through the pin 173 and the lever 174.

Because of the great eccentricity of the cam track 106 with respect to the shaft 100, the movement of the toothed sector 179 is alternately clockwise and anticlockwise; during the clockwise rotation, the movement is transmitted through the gear 182 and the unidirectional motion transmitting device 183 to the spindle 66 and, therefore, to the pair of rollers 67, 68 which feed the sheet from the roll, bringing it into contact with the following transport rollers 77, 78.

Because of the profile of the cam 106, the rotation of the sector 179 clockwise takes place at a speed which is variable and such that the front edge of the copy sheet has, in the proximity of the transport rollers 77, 78, a speed slightly lower than their speed of rotation, for the purpose of avoiding both any impact of the edge against the rollers and the formation of bends in the sheet. During the anticlockwise rotation of the sector 179, on the other hand, no transmission of the movement to the rollers 67, 68 is possible because of the uni directional transmission device 183.

FIG. 6 shows the keys for the operative commands of the machine and their actuating devices. The manually movable key 12, which is equipped with elastic return means 201 and pivoted on a spindle 202 fixed to the frame of the machine, is an on or starting key adapted to co-operate with a lever 203 also pivoted on the spindle 202 and provided with a first projection 204, a second projection 205 and a return spring 206. The projection 204 has fast with it a pin 207 engaging in a slot 208 formed in the frame of the machine. The pin 207 is adapted to control a microswitch 209. The projection 205 is adapted to co-operate with a first slot 210 formed in a slider 211 and comprising a system of inclined surfaces 213, 214, 215, a tooth 216 and an edge 226.

The slider 211, which is equipped with elastic return means 217, is free to slide in openings 218, 219 formed in the frame of the machine and to turn within these openings about a spindle 220. A second slot 229 formed in the slider 211 is adapted to co-operate with a first projection 222 of a lever 223 pivoted on the spindle 202 and adapted to co-operate with the manually movable key 13 also pivoted on the spindle 202 and equipped with a return spring 212.

The projection 222 is connected to the body of the lever 223 through the medium of an element 224 having an inclined profile connected to the said projection by means of a rising portion 225. The lever 223 is moreover provided with a second projection 226 and with a third projection 227. The projection 222 and the element 224 are adapted to co-operate with a bail 228 provided with elastic return means 283 and pivoted on a pin 230 fixed to the frame of the machine. The second projection 226 is equipped with a pin 231 adapted to co-operate with a bail 232 pivoted on a spindle 233 fixed to the frame of the machine and furnished with return springs 234.

The bail 228 is moreover coupled elastically to the third projection 227 of the lever 223. A lug 235 of the bail 228 is adapted to co-operate with a lever 237 pivoted on a pin 238 fast with the lever 28 and provided with a first projection 240 and a second projection 241. This first projection 240 is coupled by means of a spring 242 to a first projection 243 of a lever 244 pivoted on the pin 238 and having a second projection 246 and a third projection 247.

The second projection 241 of the lever 237 is provided with a stop pin 249 and is adapted to co-operate with a tooth 250 formed on a slider 251 having the key 14 integral therewith and free to slide in guides 253, 254 formed in the frame of the machine and constituting the setting element for the number of copies to be made.

The third projection 247 of the lever 244 is adapted to co-operate with the lever 260 provided with a return spring 256. The second projection 246 of the lever 244 is moreover adapted to engage in a slot 258 and in circular holes 259 formed in the slider 251 and equidismm from one another. Other holes 267, which are square, are also formed in the slider 251 with a spacing equal to that of the holes 259. The number of holes 267 is greater by two units than the number of holes 259.

A lever 270 pivoted to the frame of the machine is provided with elastic return means 271 and adapted to engage in the holes 267. The bail 232 bears a pin 273 engaging in a slot 275 formed in the counter-stop 23. The counter-stop 23 is pivoted on a pin 277 fixed to the frame and can turn in a horizontal plane, being shifted by the pin 273 of the bail 232. The counter-stop 23 is moreover fixed to a spindle 279 of a pneumatic damping device 280 fixed to the frame of the machine. The bail 232 is moreover adapted to actuate a microswitch 282 with its arm 281.

By means of the microswitch 209 the key 12 controls the switching on of the electricity supply of the machine and, therefore, the activation of the driving elements thereof.

The key 13, called the print key, controls the carrying out of a copying cycle. It is inoperative until such time as the on or starting key 12 has been set; in fact,

in the position of FIG. 6, in which the keys 12 and 13 are in their inoperative positions and the machine is in- I operative, pressing the print key 13 has a no activating effect, inasmuch as the lever 223 connected thereto is prevented from rotating since its projection 222 bears against the slider 211. On pressing the key 12, on the other hand, the lever 203 connected thereto performs a clockwise rotation and its projection 205 co-operates with the inclined surface 213 of the slider 211, causing a first travel of the slider to the left; the projection 205 is then arrested against the tooth 216; on release of the key 12, owing to the effect of the spring 206, the projection 205 tends to turn anticlockwise and therefore jumps over the tooth 216 and permits the return of the slider21l to the right through the medium of the spring 217 and, because of this, fits firmly between the edge of the inclined surface 214 and the edge 226. Through the effect of this last travel of the slider 21] to the right, the slot 229 is brought into correspondence with the projection 222 and therefore enables the setting of the key 13. On pressing the key 12 to switch the machine off, the projection 205, turning clockwise, is brought below the inclined surface 214; on release of the key 12, owing to the effect of the spring 206, the projection 205, turning anticlockwise and therefore travelling over the inclined surface 214 from bottom to top, produces the clockwise rotation of the slider 211 about its pivot 220 and the engagement of the said projection with the inclined surface 215, over which, from below, it travels upwardly, restoring the conditions shown in the drawing.

The slider 25] forming the setting element for the number of copies to be made is set manually at the desired number of copies through the key 14 (see FIG. 1), which is integral with the slider.

In the position shown in the drawing, the slider is set for making a'single copy, the slot 258 being in a position corresponding to the projection 246.

To set the slider 251, it it shifted to the left in FIG. 6 with a click action; to each click there corresponds the disengagement of the lever 270 from one of the square holes 267 and engagement with the hole following immediately to the right, an increase, of one unit in the number of copies set corresponding to each click. The position in which the slider is fully shifted to the left, that is when the lever 270 engages the last square hole 267 to the right, and no circular hole 259 is in correspondence with the projection 246 of the lever 244, corresponds to the continuous making of copies.

When the machine is inoperative, it has the carriage 2 positioned centrally with respect to the body of the machine, as in FIG. 1, and in this position the counterstop 23 engages the projection 24 of the carriage 2 and the clock spring 159 is partially loaded. On setting the key 12, the pin 207 actuates the microswitch 209 and, as hereinbefore stated, the motor 38 of the machine and all the auxiliary services thereof are activated. When the motor 38 is rotating, all the transport rollers for the copy sheet also rotate, with the exception of the pairs of feed rollers 75, 76 and 67, 68. The set of cams 101 is stationary because the clutch 112 is in the locked or disengaged position.

On' pressing the print key 13, the lever 223 bearing against it turns clockwise and its projection 222 is free to engage the slot 229. The bail 228, no longer retained by the rising portion 225 and returned by the spring 283, rotates anticlockwise about its pivot 230 and engages with the inclined surface 224, thus holding the lever 223 in the rotated position and therefore ensuring the activation of the cycle even after the release of the key 13; the rotation of the bail 228 moreover brings its lug 235 into contact with the lever 237, which is in the position shown in the drawing if the setting element 251 is positioned for a single copy and the tooth 250 therefore co-operates with the projection 241, and, conversely, if the setting element is positioned differently, the lever 237 is turned clockwise with respect to the position shown in the drawing and the pin 249 bears on the slider 251.

At the same time, the pin 231 of the projection 226 of the lever 223 produces clockwise rotation of the bail 232 which, through the pin 273, causes the clockwise rotation of the counter-stop 23 about the pivot 277 and, therefore, the disengagement of the counter-stop from the projection 24, thereby releasing the carriage 2, which, being returned by the spring 159, performs a first travel to the left (with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6) until the projection 22 integral with the copy length setting device or selector 20 engages the counter-stop 23, causing the arrest of the carriage. The impact between the projection 22 and the counter-stop 23 is damped by the damping device 280. i

The carriage therefore stops in a position shifted to the left with reference to FIGS. 5, 6), the shifting with respect to the central position being proportional to the length of the sheet format set by means of the slider 20. This shift to the left is a shift to the right as viewed from the front of the machine, as in FIG. 1.

The rotation of the bail 232 moreover produces the actuation of the microswitch 282, which conveys the current to the charging device 27.

At the same time, the rotation of the lever 223 causes the engagement of its projection 227 with the projection 246 of the lever 244, which performs an anticlockwise rotation producing the rotation of the lever 260 and, therefore, of the spindle 116 anticlockwise. The projection 227 then remains in the rotated position until the key 13 is released, allowing the projection 246 freedom of movement owing to the slot 248 with which the projection 227 is provided.

The rotation of the spindle 116 causes the rotation of the lever 115 anticlockwise and, therefore, the release or engagement of the clutch 112 and the transmission of motion to the cam system 101; as already described, the clutch remains engaged for that part of the rotation of the cam track 102 during which the pin 119 engages the sector 102b. Simultaneously with the commencement of rotation of the cams 101 there is obtained the commencement of the feed of the copy sheet from the roll or from the tray through the medium of the pairs of rollers 67, 68 and 75, 76, respectively, according to whether the tray is not or is withdrawn.

The cam track 103 is designed and phased in such manner that the engagement of the pin 121 of the lever 123 with the cam track 103a takes place when the front edge of the copy sheet fed from inside the machine and transported along its path by the pair of rollers 77, 78 arrives at a point a few millimetres from the exposure window 93.

The rotation of the cam system then continuing, when the pin 121 engages the cam track 1030, there is obtained, as already described, the transmission of the motion to the belt 37 of the carriage 2 and, owing to the movement of the rod 137, the lighting of the illuminating lamp 94 through the medium of the microswitch 139. The carriage 2 consequently performs a travel from left to right (with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6) at a speed equal to the speed of transport of the copy sheet across the exposure window, where the sheet receives the image of the original transported by the carriage.

During this travel, the engagement of the projection 26 of the carriage with the lever 29 commands the carrying out of the cutting of the copy sheet from the roll, the cutting device being armed during the rotation of the cam track 104. During the said travel, the rotation of the cam system for one revolution is completed and the system is stopped when the pin 119 engages the sector 102a again.

The travel from left to right (back to the left in FIG. 1) comes to an end when the projection 25 engages the lever 28, causing the clockwise rotation thereof, the extinction of the illuminating lamp 94 and, as already seen, the disengagement of the gear 150 from the gear 153, which produces the almost instantaneous stopping of the carriage and the reversal of its movement.

As it rotates, the lever 28, through the pin 238, rotates the lever 244, which lever strikes the spindle 145 and fulcrums thereon, rotating clockwise until its projection 246 engages in a hole 259 or with the surface of the slider 251 if the latter is set at a number of copies greater than one or for continuous copying, respectively.

The rotation of the lever 28 continuing, the lever 244 is prevented from continuing the aforesaid rotation by the engagement of the projection 246 with the slider 251 and, therefore, the lever 244, carried along by the lever 28, carries out a movement to the right and downwardly, causing the movement of the setting element 251 to the right by one step, if the projection 246 has been in engagement with a hole 259, and the anticlockwise rotation of the lever 260, which, releasing or engaging the clutch 112, initiates a fresh copying cycle. The levers then return to rest, restored by the respective return spring. The carriage meanwhile finishes its travel from right to left (in FIGS. 4 and 5) returned by the spring 159, when the projection 22 strikes the counter-stop 23 held in the rotated position by the engagement of the pin 231 with the bail 232.

If, on the other hand, the slider 25] has the slot 258 in correspondence with the projection 246, then the clockwise rotation of the lever 244 and of its projection 246 about the fulcrum continues and there is therefore no engagement of the lever 244 with the lever 260 and, therefore, the clutch is not engaged again and the lever 28 carries along in its rotation to the right the lever 237, which is positioned with the projection 241 in contact with the tooth 250 and therefore causes the bail 228 to rotate clockwise; the bail disengages itself from the inclined surface 224 of the lever 223 and permits its rotation anticlockwise and, therefore, the raising of the key 13, the anticlockwise rotation of the bail 232 and the positioning of the counter-stop 23 in the path of the projection 24, and in general the restoration of the conditions shown in FIG. 6, so that the carriage will position itself centrally with respect to the body 1 during its spring-produced return travel.

What we claim is:

1. An electrostatic copying machine of the type having a motor, a first transport system actuated by the motor for transporting an original along a scanning zone past an illuminating system, a second transport system actuated by the motor for transporting a copy sheet fed from a feed station through a corona-effect electrostatic charging device and through an exposure zone at which an image of the original is formed by an optical system, means for synchronizing the movement of the said first and second transport systems and for co-ordinating the actuation of the charging device and illuminating system with the movement of the first transport system, said means comprising in combination:

a first cam actuated by the motor,

a second cam integral with said first cam and movable therewith,

a third can integral with said second cam and movable therewith,

a clutch device movable into a first operative position of transmission of the motion fromthe motor to said first cam and into a second position of nontransmission of the motion from the motor to said first cam,

a key for effecting the movement of said clutch device into its first operative position and for switching on the corona changing device,

means actuated by said first cam for transmitting the motion from the motor to the first transport system and for activating the illuminating system,

means actuated by said second cam for feeding the copy sheet to the second transport system; and

means actuated by said third cam for causing said clutch device to move into its second position.

2. A'copying machine according to claim 1, wherein the first transport system receives its motion from the motor through a plurality of gears, a movable one of which is movable between an operative position and a position of disengagement from the rest of said plurality, said means actuated by said first cam comprising a lever system controlling the passage of said movable gear between the said position of disengagement and the said operative position. v

3. A copying machine according to claim 2, wherein the first transport system comprises a carriage movable on the body of the machine in sequence between an in-v operative position, a first working position and a second working position, the inoperative position being intermediate between the first and second working positions, the movement of the carriage during the execution of a copying cycle being constituted by a first travel between the inoperative position and the first working position, a second travel from the first working position to the said second working position, during which the light image of the original transported along the scanning zone is formed on the copy sheet which is simultaneously moved through the exposure zone, and a third travel from the second working position to the inoperative position, said movable gear being in the operative position during the second travel and in the position of disengagement during the first and third travels.

4. A copying machine according to claim 3, further comprising:

a first element fast with the carriage which cooperates with a first stop connected to the body of the machine when the carriage is stationary in the inoperative position,

a spring partially loaded when the carriage is in its inoperative position which imparts the movement to the carriage during the first and third travels; and

means for loading said spring during said second travel.

5. A copying machine according to claim 4, further comprising:

a second element borne by the carriage and cooperating during the second travel with said lever system for shifting said movable gear from said operative position to said position of disengagement, to produce the execution of the third travel and for switching off the illuminating system.

6. A copying machine according to claim 5, wherein the feed station comprises means for feeding copy sheets from a roll, and further comprising:

a selector for the length to which the copy sheet is to be cut from the roll borne by the carriage and including a third element movable therewith,

a second stop connected to the body of the machine and co-operating with said third element for defining said first working position, to vary the length of the said first travel proportionally with the variation in the length of the copy sheet set by means of the selector.

7. A copying machine according to claim 6, further comprising:

an actuatable device for cutting the copy sheet from the roll during the said second travel, and

a fourth element carried by the carriage and fixed thereto for actuating said device during said second travel.

8. A copying machine according to claim 5, wherein the feed station comprises means for feeding copy sheets from a roll, further comprising:

a supplementary feed station for an off-size copy sheet including a tray withdrawable from the body of the machine,

activatable means for feeding the off-size copy sheet placed in said tray in the withdrawn position,

a fourth cam integral with said first, second and third cams for activating said activatable means for feeding, and

means for disenabling the actuation of the third cam upon the withdrawal of the tray.

9. A copying machine according to claim 4, wherein a setting element for the number of copies to be made which is present in the machine and is positionable for the execution of a single copying cycle or a predetermined number of copying cycles or for the continuous execution of copying cycles and further comprising:

a lever system for the removal of the first stop connected to the body of the machine from the path of the first element fast with the carriage for each position of the setting element different from that for the execution of a single copying cycle, the said third and first travels constituting for each position of the setting element different from that for the execution of a single copying cycle a single travel from the second working position to the first working position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,900,256

DATED August 19, 1975 INVENTOR(S) 1 Giovanni Ravera, Giorgio Siletto Carlo Bellis it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the first page after [73] Assignee" de1ete"Ing. C.Olivette & C. S.p.A. Turin, Italy" and insert Ing. C. Olivetti & C. S. p. A. Ivrea,

Ita1y.

Signed and Sealcd this ninth Day of December 1975 "[SEAL] Attest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Office Commissioner ofParenIs and Trademarks 

1. An electrostatic copying machine of the type having a motor, a first transport system actuated by the motor for transporting an original along a scanning zone past an illuminating system, a second transport system actuated by the motor for transporting a copy sheet fed from a feed station through a corona-effect electrostatic charging device and through an exposure zone at which an image of the original is formed by an optical system, means for synchronizing the movement of the said first and second transport systems and for co-ordinating the actuation of the charging device and illuminating system with the movement of the first transport system, said means comprising in combination: a first cam actuated by the motor, a second cam integral with said first cam and movable therewith, a third can integral with said second cam and movable therewith, a clutch device movable into a first operative position of transmission of the motion from the motor to said first cam and into a second position of non-transmission of the motion from the motor to said first cam, a key for effecting the movement of said clutch device into its first operative position and for switching on the corona changing device, means actuated by said first cam for transmitting the motion from the motor to the first transport system and for activating the illuminating system, means actuated by said second cam for feeding the copy sheet to the second transport system; and means actuated by said third cam for causing said clutch device to move into its second position.
 2. A copying machine according to claim 1, wherein the first transport system receives its motion from the motor through a plurality of gears, a movable one of which is movable between an operative position and a position of disengagement from the rest of said plurality, said means actuated by said first cam comprising a lever system controlling the passage of said movable gear between the said position of disengagement and the said operative position.
 3. A copying machine according to claim 2, wherein the first transport system comprises a carriage movable on the body of the machine in sequence between an inoperative position, a first working position and a second working position, the inoperative position being intermediate between the first and second working positions, the movement of the carriage during the execution of a copying cycle being constituted by a first travel between the inoperative position and the first working position, a second travel from the first working position to the said second working position, during which the light image of the original transported along the scanning zone is formed on the copy sheet which is simultaneously moved through the exposure zone, and a third travel from the second working position to the inoperative position, said movable gear being in the operative position during the second travel and in the position of disengagement during the first and third travels.
 4. A copying machine according to claim 3, further comprising: a first element fast with the carriage which co-operates with a first stop connected to the body of the machine when the carriage is stationary in the inoperative position, a spring partially loaded when the carriage is in its inoperative position which imparts the movement to the carriage during the first and third travels; and means for loading said spring during said second travel.
 5. A copying machine according to claim 4, further comprising: a second element borne by the carriage and co-operating during the second travel with said lever system for shifting said movable gear from said operative position to said position of disenGagement, to produce the execution of the third travel and for switching off the illuminating system.
 6. A copying machine according to claim 5, wherein the feed station comprises means for feeding copy sheets from a roll, and further comprising: a selector for the length to which the copy sheet is to be cut from the roll borne by the carriage and including a third element movable therewith, a second stop connected to the body of the machine and co-operating with said third element for defining said first working position, to vary the length of the said first travel proportionally with the variation in the length of the copy sheet set by means of the selector.
 7. A copying machine according to claim 6, further comprising: an actuatable device for cutting the copy sheet from the roll during the said second travel, and a fourth element carried by the carriage and fixed thereto for actuating said device during said second travel.
 8. A copying machine according to claim 5, wherein the feed station comprises means for feeding copy sheets from a roll, further comprising: a supplementary feed station for an off-size copy sheet including a tray withdrawable from the body of the machine, activatable means for feeding the off-size copy sheet placed in said tray in the withdrawn position, a fourth cam integral with said first, second and third cams for activating said activatable means for feeding, and means for disenabling the actuation of the third cam upon the withdrawal of the tray.
 9. A copying machine according to claim 4, wherein a setting element for the number of copies to be made which is present in the machine and is positionable for the execution of a single copying cycle or a predetermined number of copying cycles or for the continuous execution of copying cycles and further comprising: a lever system for the removal of the first stop connected to the body of the machine from the path of the first element fast with the carriage for each position of the setting element different from that for the execution of a single copying cycle, the said third and first travels constituting for each position of the setting element different from that for the execution of a single copying cycle a single travel from the second working position to the first working position. 